Pep urges caution on Rodri return to action | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says it has been a huge positive to have Rodri back around City's first team squad – but warned the key holding midfielder against trying to rush a return to action.

The Spanish international and current Ballon d’Or winner, sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury when City last met Arsenal at the Etihad in a 2-2 draw back in September.

That injury saw the 28-year-old subsequently undergo surgery in Madrid before setting out on his lengthy rehabilitation.

Rodri travelled with the City squad out to Paris for our penultimate Champions League initial phase fixture against Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month and has recently been a popular presence on the CFA sidelines watching training as well at the Etihad on matchdays.

But asked whether he thought Rodri could be in contention to potentially return to action before the end of this season, the City boss struck a cautionary note, pointing to the severity of the injury.

“He’s positive but I don’t know to be honest. An ACL is an ACL,” Pep warned.

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“Always I believe in long injuries there’s a time you must respect because of the human body.

“The ACL is the ACL for every football player and every athlete so there is a time.

“The first month he was in Madrid all the time for the surgery there and then with the doctors and the physios.

“Now it’s lovely to have him here in the locker room. His voice and his presence of course it is important.

“When he wants to travel to special places, I said to all the injured players of course you can come and it’s nice to have him. Of course, it’s good

“[The] Most important [thing] for Rodri now is to recover well.

“You’re not a teenager anymore but still you have years to play. And it’s going to happen if you recover well.

“If you can back for one week, one month and [take a] step back for next season it's not intelligent.

“Of course, he’d love to play tomorrow - I know that. But the body is the body, and recovery needs its own time.

“It’s going really well and he feels really good, but step by step we will see.”